STURT has held on gamely against a fast-finishing South Adelaide in one of the most incredible first-against-late battles for Round 7 of the SANFL Under 18s competition. The Double Blues lead by 21 points at quarter time and 22 points at the final break, and even 20 points with six minutes on the clock before three consecutive goals to the Panthers cut the deficit to two points.

Still charging home and having a few inside 50 entries in the last 90 seconds of the match, South Adelaide could not quite connect for that last major and the end score finished as 13.9 (87) to 13.7 (85). The result came after after 14 and six-point losses to Woodville-West Torrens and Glenelg respectively, both of whom sit inside the top four on the Under 18s ladder.

We took note of how the nine State Academy members fared in the epic contest.

Sturt 13.9 (87) def. South Adelaide 13.7 (85)

STURT:

#26 Noah Roberts-Thomson (Midfielder)
Stats: 24 disposals, 2 marks (1 contested), 5 tackles, 11 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 4 rebound 50s, 1 goal, 1 behind

An inside beast who racked up 20 touches and his 11 clearances in the first three quarters to pose all sorts of problems for the Panthers. He has been in great form this season and that continued in the narrow win. Though he could not get his hands on it as much in the last as South Adelaide tried to limit his influence at the coalface, he did take a strong mark on the wing. His sole major came off a huge contested mark in the goalsquare seven minutes into the third term.

#30 Louis Kellaway (Midfielder)
Stats: 20 disposals, 2 marks, 8 tackles, 3 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 behind

Accumulated the ball around the ground and applied great defensive pressure. The Richmond father-son prospect has had bigger games this season and the slicker conditions saw him a touch more fumbly at ground level. Once he had possession he looked to use it through a chain of hands to get it forward, and had a premium on possessions retention with his kicking. Had a few touches that lead to scoring opportunities for his team and was okay across the board.

#36 Harley Barker (Wing)
Stats: 15 disposals, 7 marks, 2 tackles, 1 clearance, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

The Double Blues skipper covered the ground exceptionally well and for a time was camped in defence looking to mop up anything that came his way. He found space consistently on the outside and ran hard in waves trying to get his side over the line. His kick to Roberts-Thomson deep inside 50 was a beauty. When given the opportunity he takes off, and was outstanding in the air.

#40 Jett Dahlitz (Defender)
Stats: 19 disposals, 5 marks, 1 tackle, 2 inside 50s, 5 rebound 50s

Had plenty to do at times, then quiet patches other times due to the heavy momentum swings of the match. Most of the time he went the safe route to the boundary when in the back 50, but usually followed up to put speed on the ball or offer another option down the field. He took a terrific mark in the middle during the fourth term and hit an incredibly risky kick straight down the guts but it was with pinpoint precision. When in attack mode he took the opportunity to go long and put pressure on the opposition defence.

#41 Kale Matthews-Hampton (Defender)
Stats: 20 disposals, 8 marks, 2 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 4 rebound 50s

Behind Roberts-Thomson was the next best for the Double Blues from the State Academy members, particularly in the first half. Matthews-Hampton was huge in the early stages of repelling anything and dishing off cleanly, and then in the second term hit an absolute sizzler down the middle off his damaging left. Generally used the ball very well and had 13 touches to the main break. He finished with 20, but his work behind the ball and composure to clear it consistently was important.

Others:

Double Blues ruck Jonah Lagana was incredible at the stoppages, amassing a whopping 45 hitouts to go with 21 touches, four clearances and four tackles, while Sam White rotated between midfield and attack and had a high-impact game of 17 disposals, five tackles and four clearances and three goals.

SOUTH ADELAIDE:

#2 Cain Florance (Forward)
Stats: 11 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles, 1 clearance, 2 inside 50s, 2 goals

A crafty forward who pounced on a couple of opportunities when South surged forward, Florence showed a consistent kicking technique that earned him a couple of majors in the match. His set shot conversion on the edge of half-time gave the underdogs a real spark and he put the ball into dangerous positions deep forward.

#3 Kodah Edwards (Forward/Midfielder)
Stats: 14 disposals, 4 marks (1 contested), 8 tackles, 5 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 goal

Edwards had some eye-catching moments in the match both around the ball and inside 50. His biggest highlight came midway through the second term where he took a courageous mark then snapped off the left foot with great precision on a tight angle. His tackling and defensive pressure as a whole was sublime, and he won his fair share of centre clearances including one in the final minute with his side two points down but was unfortunately intercepted at half-forward.

#7 Archie Van dyk (Midfielder)
Stats: 20 disposals, 3 marks (1 contested), 8 tackles, 7 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 1 goal

Started on-ball and was the Panthers’ best answer to Roberts-Thomson’s work around the coalface, notching up seven clearances from 20 touches and laying eight tackles himself. His contested mark midway through the third term was great, and he set up a couple of scoring chances to teammates. When South needed a spark though, Van dyk delivered in spades with an enormous goal from outside 50 at the 19-minute mark of the fourth term. It was the first of three majors in a row for the Panthers who roared home.

#16 Elliott Duffield (Defender)
Stats: 15 disposals, 3 marks, 4 tackles, 1 hitout, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50

Often found deep in defence relieving the pressure valve for the Panthers, Duffield won his share of touches and was able to control play when needed. He saved a goal at the top of the goalsquare early in the fourth term and put pressure on the opposition close to go. Usually neat, he made an almost costly mistake early when he kicked to space just past his teammate, but the South defence – including Duffield – was able to recover it and clear to safety.

Others:

South skipper Jesse Nye (17 disposals, five marks, 11 tackles and seven clearances) tried to haul his team over the line, with only his two behinds the sticking point in an others impressive outing. Forward Patrick Carman (three goals) was a strong marking player out of the square and along with Hudson Voigt (two goals) hit the scoreboard on multiple occasions.

ROUND 7 RESULTS

Woodville-West Torrens 9.12 (66) def. North Adelaide 9.9 (63)
Sturt 13.9 (87) def. South Adelaide 13.7 (85)
Glenelg 11.8 (74) def. by Norwood 13.7 (85)
Central District 17.18 (120) def. West Adelaide 7.5 (47)

SANFL U18 LADDER

1. Sturt – 5-1-1 | 57.27%
2. Woodville-West Torrens – 5-2 | 52.78%
3. Central District – 4-3 | 54.6%
4. Glenelg – 4-3 | 50.52%
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5. North Adelaide – 3-4 | 48.1%
6. Norwood – 3-4 | 45.45%
7. West Adelaide – 2-4-1 | 44.22%
8. South Adelaide – 1-6 | 47.06%